TTP, Foreign hand behind Karachi situation, NA told

ISLAMABAD - The National Assembly, on the second last private-member day of the last session (50th), adopted Tuesday ‘The Capital University Islamabad Bill, 2013” with an aim to set up a university in the capital to contribute to the higher education learning in the country.The house with the thin presence of legislators disposed of only four agenda items out of total 31. On PPP legislator Yasmeen Rehman’s bill, ‘The Capital University Islamabad Bill, 2013’, ANP MNA Bushra Gohar proposed that it should not be moved in haste. “Why are we rushing to pass bills, we still have time for proper legislation. We are not against education, but express our reservations over such legislation,” said the ANP lawmaker, commenting on speedy legislation.MQM MNA Abdul Qadir Khanzada proposed that there should be proper representation of all the provinces. He said there should be equal opportunity for all. Yasmeen Rehman, the mover of the bill, gave her nod to accept this proposal.The statement of objects and reasons of the bill says, “Setting standards for 21st century Pakistan, the Capital University aims to contribute to the higher education learning in Pakistan by promoting innovation, research, training and learning in the fields of both social and natural sciences.”“The establishment of the Capital University through this act of the Parliament in the federal capital seeks to encourage innovation in these issues, broadening the base of access to higher education in Pakistani youth,” it further says.MQM legislator Waseem Akhtar drew attention of the house towards faulty radar system in Quetta. “The radar system in Quetta has been out of order for several days and needs immediate attention,” he added.Earlier, responding to a call-attention notice moved by MQM lawmakers regarding illegal supply of explosives especially in Karachi, Interior Minister of State Imtiaz Safdar Warraich said TTP and some foreign elements were deteriorating the law and order situation in the biggest city of the country. "TTP after losing its hold in Swat has now scattered in different parts of the country,” said Warraich, disclosing that 67 blasts had happened in Karachi. He said 61 accused were arrested and 209kg explosive material was recovered last year.Sharing further details, the minister said that in January around 33 cases of explosives were filed and 30 persons arrested. In response to the question moved by the MQM MNA, he made it clear that the recovered weapons from the accused were locally manufactured.An MQM legislator, on a point of order, once again demanded establishment of Jinnah University in Hyderabad. The MQM legislators did not walk out contrary to their previous claim to continue a token walkout till Pir Mazhar ul Haq apologised to the people of Sindh on his statement against the establishment of a university in Hyderababad. However, MQM MNA Sajid Ahmed stressed the need to set up a university in Hyderabad.Earlier, ANP MNA Bushra Gohar once again expressed the same reservation over doing legislation in haste on a report of the standing committee on the ‘Pakistan Psychological Council Bill, 2013'.According to the statement of the objects and reasons, it will provide a framework for regularising the field of mental health and psychology services in Pakistan besides achieving national and international goals by supporting professionals in the disciplines of psychology for sustainable development of the country on the basis of Islamic ideology.Earlier, a bill to amend the Pakistan Citizenship Act, 1951 (The Pakistan Citizenship (amendment) Bill, 2013) was introduced in the house.The statement of objects and reasons says that under Section 14 of the Pakistan Citizenship Act, 1952, deals with dual citizenship. If a citizen of Pakistan with dual nationality, having taken oath of another country, indulges himself in an unconstitutional activity, he shall make himself liable for being deprived of Pakistani citizenship.A house business advisory committee of the National Assembly also met in the Parliament House and decided that the current session of the National Assembly would continue till March 12, 2013. It was decided that the National Assembly, besides taking up legislative business for passage of bills would also take up other matters of public importance for discussion. The members of the committee paid tributes to Speaker Fehmida Mirza for her role in conducting proceedings of the National Assembly impartially as a custodian of the house. They also thanked the speaker and the secretariat for cooperation extended to them in the discharge of their responsibilities.The meeting was attended by Deputy Speaker Faisal Karim Kundi, Defence Minister Syed Naveed Qamar, Defence Production Minister Sardar Bahadur Ahmed Khan Sihar, MNAs Nawab Muhammad Yousaf Talpur, Sheikh Aftab Ahmad, Rana Tanveer Hussain, Sardar Ayaz Sadiq, Ch Muhammad Birjees Tahir and Dr Abdul Qadir Khanzada.

This news was published in The Nation newspaper. Read complete newspaper of 27-Feb-2013 here.